I have no answers for you, at the moment, Arlie. Maybe next time I talk to Tom, I can ask him - but somehow I doubt either. But perhaps I have an slight inkling of the lines you might be thinking along. It seems Tom, himself, had plans to make further cheaper copies of the Thomassima II, back in early '67 - as a limited production run. If you translate this section of the Auto Sprint article: It comes out something like .... The young American designer also has the idea to realize a car powered by a four-litre Oldsmobile motor (B.O.P. V-8) with the car's bodywork half in plastic (read fiberglass) and "avional", a new light alloy steel. This future creation would be cheaper than the model currently in preparation (the Thomassima II). As we know - they never came to fruition. A good thing, really, IMO, as it means the Thomassima II remains quite unique. However, I have heard that a certain U.S. replica manufacturer has publicly expressed an interest in building a Thomassima II replica. Needless to say, I have made both the car's owner and restorers aware of this fact. Forewarned is fore-armed, as the saying goes.
Strange you should say that, Marc. Did you not notice the majority of them were reproduced on the very first page of Larry Crane's Auto Aficionado article ? O.K. I've just looked at post #15, where I had originally uploaded the low-res .pdf file of the Auto Aficionado article. This thread has had close on 4500 hits, but that .pdf attachment has only had 35 views. So, for the benefit of (most of) you, who appear to have missed it first time around - here it is again. Click on the link below. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Please tell them to keep true to the origins of those type of cars. Nothing says "kit car" more than SQUARE tubing for a chassis. From what I've seen, all the Italian chassis makers used round or elliptical tubing. I will be happy to be a "field tester" for the first run of Thomassima replicas! (and receive a sizeable discount on the purchase price for my technical feedback of course!)
Another interesting little quote from the 1967 Auto Sprint article Italian text in post #42 (on page 3 of this thread) is: .... which roughly translates as: The "Thomassima" is equipped with a ZF five-speed change, and with special wheels in elektron light alloy (designed by Meade) for Firestone "Indy" tyres. Seems those Meade-designed wheels didn't ever materialize - the car ended up being fitted with the familiar chromed Borrani wires. Was there ever any doubt, George ? You have email, by the way. The photo below was taken back in August, 2007. Incidentally - the car's restoration hasn't progressed anything like this far, as yet. This was just a 'dry run' - attaching the some of the major body sections to the chassis, and trial fitting front suspension components. Image Unavailable, Please Login
"Thanks, Marc. Read, contents noted .... and inwardly digested. " Molto bene George! Where is that car being restored? Is it California? I am in Florida right now and may well fly to Los Angeles mid month... Thanks for letting me know, best regards, Marc
Arjan. There's an English saying: 'Great minds think alike'. Really, neither of us should have posted it in here. I only did so, in response to Marc Sonnery's comment at the top of page 4: There is another 'general' Thomassima thread in this section, where it would probably be better to post 'off-topic' Tom Meade material. I've just given it a 'bump': http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=108642 Let's all please try and keep this thread a bit more 'on topic' from now on. Remember it's the 'Thomassima II of Tom Meade' thread.
O.K.. I know what I wrote in my previous post .... but I've just been emailed a set of scans of yet another 'Tom Meade' article .... .... Kindly supplied by Francis Muller ('GIOTTO'). The (italian language) article is from RuoteClassiche, entitled: 'Un Americano A Modena' written by Elvio Deganello. So why did I post it in this thread, rather than the other general 'Thomassimas' thread ? The first three pages include lovely colour photos (credited to Pete Coltrin) of the Thomassima II - again at Modena autodrome. See Francis' scans (as .pdf files) below: Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Yep. My motivation was always to research those Ferraris that were always left aside by magazine editors who keep covering GTO's Testarossas P4's, 312PB's again and again and again through the decades and practically never the 212E Montagna, the 312P V12 1969, the 268SP, the la piccola 166P (206SP prototype), the Pato Hoare Dino F1 V12, the Nembos the Thomassimas, doing so and seeing these articles published was hugely satisfying and it is very sweet to see this thread hit count....
But surely you are familiar with this B&W image below, Marc ? Taken during filming of the B-movie ('spy flick') - 'Fuller Report' (1969) at Modena autodrome in 1968. Bare-chested actor Ken Clark who played the hero Dick Worth stood by the car, as is Tom Meade - in shades and dark shirt. In the background you can see the Maserati Tipo 65 which was '(stunt) driven' by Dick Worth in the racing / track-test scenes. Sadly, the Thomassima II had little more than a 'cameo' role in the movie, and is on screen for probably less than 10 seconds. Scan kindly provided by Dottore Ing. Adolfo Orsi. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Ah Paul you got "Rasputin" to answer: well done! Adolfo can be very prompt or some time in the future! You must visit his personal museum home, I spent 6 months there indexing an archive, it is unbelievable. So yes that is the photo I had mentioned: what an amazing moment, Meade, his creation and the tipo 65 in the background, it does not get more elusive than that!
You are most welcome but huh...the original they used was scratched and then the rendition of the photo in the book is very grainy so... Hopefull we can track down the original!
Hello all I am in search of Thomas as I have lost contact with him this last year here in Santa Monica. We were working on a few ideas and I have some of his property that needs to be returned. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Please PM me any info. Thank you Tim
